Control apparatus



March 10, 1931. s. B. SCHENCK CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Aug; '25, 1926 ns m 4 utrit nouW WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ugl E .Schenck.

Patented Mar. 10, 1931 unirr.

SAMUEL B. SCHENCK, OF WILKINSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO VTESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA CONTROL APPARATUS Application filed. August 23, 1926. Serial. No. 131,021.

1 manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide for giving the motion-transmitting member of an air-engine a step-by-step motion.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for imparting to a motion-transmitting member of an air-engine a step-by-step motion, the steps of which differ in length.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part, appear hereinafter. In particular, my invention is adapted to effect the simultaneous or multiple-unit 1 operation of engines on the same or diiferent vehicles.

This invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing and, comprises the structural features, the combination of elements and the arrangement of parts, which will be ex emplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

' For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and, partly in section, showing schematically.

an air-engine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top'plan View of'the air engine, showing the relation of the members;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modification of the air-engine, showing a linkage adapted to give the motion-transmitting member a step-by-step movement, the steps of which are of different lengths;

Fig. 4 is a diagram'of the circuit connections that may be used for controlling the operation of the air-engine; and I Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the steps in the operation of a linkage actuated by the air-engine for giving the motion transmitting member a step-by-st-ep movement.

Referring now to the drawing, the air engine, shown schematically in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a plurality of air cylinders 10, 11 and 12 that are arranged in spaced relation. While, in thisparticular embodiment of the invention, only three cylinders are illus trated, it is to be understood that any desired number may be employed.

As the cylinders are of like construction, a description of one will suffice. The central cylinder 11, which is shown in section in .Fig. 1, has a piston 13 slidably mounted therein to which is attached a piston rod 1 1. In order to return the piston to the bottom of the cylinder, after it has been operated by some such means as air pressure,a spring 15 is mounted on the piston rod 14 between the top of the cylinder and the piston.

As shown, an air inlet port 16 is provided in the bottom of the cylinder, so that air may be admitted for the purpose of actuating the piston 13. The, movement of the piston, under air pressure and under the influence of the spring 15, is facilitated by providing a port 17 in the upper end of the cylinder.

In this embodiment of the invention, the air cylinders 10, 11 and 12 are supplied from an air reservoir 18, which may be fed from any suitable source of compressed air, such as an air compressor (not shown) The compressed air is conveyed from the reservoir through the main pipe line 19 and three branch lines, 20, 21 and 22, to the air cylinders 10, 11 and 12, respectively.

In order to control the admission of airto the cylinders 10 to 12, inclusive, electromagnetically controlled valves 23, 24 and 25 are connected in the branch lines 20, 21 and 22, respectively. As shown, the valves 23 to 25, inclusive, are provided with coils 26 to 28, inclusive, which may be energized in any predetermined sequence, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

A linkage, shown generally at 29, is mounted on the piston rods which extend above the cylinders. For purposes of explanation, the piston rods extending out of cylinders 10 and 12 will be designated by the numerals 30 and 31, respectively.

In this particular construction, the linkage comprises three members 32, 33 and 34. As will be observed, the links 32 and 33 are pivotally connected at their junction point 37, and they are pivotally mounted on the piston rod 14. The outer ends of the links 32 and 33 are pivotally connected to the piston rods 30 and 31, respectively. The central link 34 is pivotally mounted on lateral extensions 35 and 36, which are provided on the members or links 32 and 33.

.as shown, all the oints between the ditlerent members of the lin age and between the members and the piston rods, except the central one designated by the numeral 37, are constructed to permit a certain amount of lost motion. any suitable manner, in this structure, pins, such as shown at 38, are provided on one of the articulatet members wl ile the other is provided with a slot 39 in which the pin may move freely.

The member or link 34 is provided with a centrally disposed lateral projection 40, which may be termed the motion-transmitting member of tl e air-engine. If the air-engine is utilized for actuating one or more members,

such as the butterfly valve 41 in the gas intake pipe 42 of a gas engine, connecting rods, such as 43 and 44, may be provided to connect the member to the valve. In mounting the connecting rods, the'member 44 is pivotally mounted on the motion-transmitting member 40, while the member 43, which is pivotally connected to the member 44, is fixed to a trunnion of the butterfly valve 41.

' It will be observedtnat the extensions 35 and 36 are centrally disposed on the links 32 and and that the member 40 is located at the center of the link Accordingly, since the strokes of the pistons are the same, all the steps of the movement given to the member 40 will be the same in length.

i rssume now that an air-engine of this type is used to actuate a valve member disposed to rotate about a fixed axis, such, for example,

as a butterytly valve, often utilized to control the flow-o1 gas in feed pipes, or the like, and that it is necessary, or cesirabl ,to increase the area of the passage-way through the feed pipe by the same amount for each step of the air-engine. This may be accomplished by properly designing the linkage 29. As will be readily understood, the steps of movement of the member 40 may be varied by position ing the extensions 35 and 36 at predetermined points on the links 32 and 33, respectively. A linkage of this type, which is ada ited to give the motion-transmitting member 40 a step-by- Such joints may be made in step movement, the steps of which are of different lengths, is illustrated in Fig. 3.

The coils 26, 27 and 28 for actuating the air valves 23, 24 and 25, respectively, may be energized from any suitable source and, in this particular case, storage batteries 45 are provided.

In order to control the energization of the ma et coils 26, 27 and 28, and, therefore, the operation'oi the valves 23 to 25, inclusive, a control drum 49, having two contact seg ments and 51 disposed on opposite sides thereof, is provider. The two contact segments are provided so that when the control drum 49 is disposed for actuation in conjunction with a master ontroller, the oper ation of the air-engine may be efiected when the controller is set for either forward or reverse operation.

In order to provide for the energization of the magnet coils 26 to 28, inclusive, in a predetermined sequence, four contact fingers 52 to 55, inclusive, and 52 to 55', inclusive, are disposed for engagement by the contact segments 50 and 51, respectively. The contact fingers 58 to 55, inclusive, are connected with the contact fingers 53 to 55,'inclusive, by three main conductors 46 to 48, inclusive. The magnet coils 26 to 28, inclusive, are connected to the conductors 46 to 48, inclusive, respectively. Further, the contact fingers 52 and 52 are connected to the battery 45.

The operation of the airengine will be the same, irrespective of whether the drum 49 is rotated forward or in the reverse direction.

ccordingly, it will be sufiicient to describe the operation of the air engine when the drum is rotated forward, that is, when the contact segment 50 is operated to engage the contact fingers 52 to 55, inclusive.

Assume now that it is desired to effect the operation or" the air-engine to operate the butterfly valve 41. Upon movement of the contact segment 50 into engagement with the contact fingers 52 and 53, a circuit is established from the battery 45 through contact fingers 52 and 53, which are bridged by the contact segment 50, conductor 48, and magnet coil 26 to ground at 56. Thus, the coil 26 is energized and the valve 23. opened, admitting air to the cylinder 10.

Before air is admitted to the cylinder 10, the members of the linkage 29 lie in the same plane as shown in step a of the diagram illustrated in Fig. 5. lVhen the piston in cylinder 10 is actuated upon the admission of air, the links 32 and 35 are actuated to the position shown in step b. The member 40 is, therefore, moved one step.

Upon movement of the contact segment 50 another step, the contact finger 55 is engaged and a new circuit is set up. Current now flows from the battery 45 through the contact fingers 52 and 55 which are bridged by the contact segment 50, conductor 46, and

magnet coil 28 to ground at 56. In this manner, the valve 25 is opened and air is admitted to the cylinder 12. The outer end of the link 33 is actuated to the position the battery through the contact fingers.

52 and 54, which are bridged by the contact segment 50, conductor 47 and magnet coil 27 to ground at 56. The energization of magnet coil 27 opens the valve 24 and admits air to the cylinder 11, thereby actuating the piston 13 and piston rod 14.

At the same time that the valve 24 is i opened, the valve 23 is closed to cut off the supply of air from the reservoir 18 and to open its exhaust port to permit the air to escape from the cylinder 10 to the atmosphere. The spring 15 then functions to project the piston in the cylinder 10 to its lower position. Consequently, the operation of the linkage indicated in step d of Fig. 5 is elfected. The pistons in the cylinders 11 and 12 are actuated to their upper positions, while the piston in cylinder 10 is projected to its lower position. In this manner, the member 40 is moved through another step. v

The next position of the contact segment 50 is designated full speed position. WVhen the contact segment is moved to its final position, the contact fingers 52 to 55, inclusive, are engaged, and the three circuits described above are closed. When all the circuits are closed, the three magnet coils 26 to 28, inclusive, are energized and the valves 23 to 25, inclusive, are opened to connect the cylinders 10 to 12, inclusive, to the reservoir 18.

The piston in cylinder 10 is again actuated to its raised position, and the linkage 29 is again set in a straight line position with all the-links in the same plane, but in their upper positions. The member 40 is actuated from the position shown in step d of the diagram in Fig. 5 to the position 6.

As the member 40 is moved step-by-step through a predetermined distance, motion is transmitted to the butterfly valve 41 through the connecting members 43 and 44. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 1, when the connecting rod 44 is moved step-by-step, the connecting rod 43 is given an angular motion about the axis of the butterfly valve 41. Since the connecting rod 43 is fixed to a trunnion of the butterfly valve, the latter may be.

rotated toward its open position to permit gas or the like to pass through the pipe 42.

It will be readily understood that a linkage arranged in accordance with Fig. 3 may be given the same movements as described for the linkage illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, if the magnet valves are energized in the same sequence. However, when the members 35 and 36 arenot disposed at the centers of the links 32 and 33, the member 40 will not be moved the same distance for each step of the operation of the air engine.

While the illustrated example constitutes a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the details herein shown, since manifestly the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an engine, in combination, a plurality of cylinders, pistons slidably mounted in the cylinders, a plurality of links carried by the pistons, one link extending between each pair of adjacent pistons and pivotally connected to each other, and another link pivotallyv mounted on said piston links and means for actuating the pistons in'a predetermined sequence in order to eifect a stepby-step operation of said links.

2. In a fluid pressure engine, in combination, a plurality of cylinders, pistons slidably 'mounted in the cylinders, an articulated linkage carried by the pistons, said linkage comprising a plurality of members disposed between pairs of pistons and a member carried by the links disposed between the pistons and a motion transmitting member disposed for linear movement carried by the last mentioned member of the articulated linkage.

3. In a fluid-pressure engine for operating a valve disposed for angular movement, in combination, a plurality of cylinders, pistons slidably mounted in the cylinders, an articulated linkage carried by the pistons, said linkage comprising a plurality of members disposed between pairs of pistons and a central link pivotally connected to the links disposed between the pistons and a motiontransmitting means interposed between said central link and valve which is disposed for angular movement for converting linear motion to angular motion, the pivotal connections between the links being so disposed that the valve may be opened by equal increments in a step-by-step manner.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of August, 1926.

SAMUEL B. SCHENCK. 

